Methods and apparatuses for controlling the appearance of a user interface

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems and machine readable media for displaying (e.g., information from multiple calendars) using different secondary colors generated according to primary colors in a data processing system. In one exemplary method, a calendar interface is displayed on a display device, wherein the calendar interface is capable of displaying calendar events for a user, and a control interface is displayed, which control interface allows the user to selectively display calendar events simultaneously from at least two calendars of the user in the calendar interface. Each of the calendars can have a primary color for display; and, secondary colors are automatically determined based on the primary color for the user interface elements associated with a calendar.

The present invention in one embodiment relates to controlling theappearance of a user interface with colors, such as a computer programcomprising a plurality of calendars.

In the last fifty years, the pace of life and complexity for theconsumer has increased considerably. Hitherto, many consumers merelyrequired a simple manuscript diary or calendar to organise the variouscommitments and events occurring in their life. This developed furtherfor consumers in having more than one diary or calendar for each personof a household or for different areas of their life. Thus, it was notuncommon to maintain a family diary for the events for each member ofthe household and work calendars to maintain events for working membersof the household and possibly also social calendars to maintain eventsfor social matters such as theatre appearances or sporting fixtures.

As the pace of life and complexity for the consumer increased evenfurther, maintaining those separate calendars became considerably moredifficult. It was not uncommon for the appropriate calendar not to beavailable or conflicting events from different calendars confirmed.

Thus, it has been proposed to have a single system for maintainingevents. Having a single manuscript calendar becomes very bulky anddifficult to access from various sites and difficult to present data ina cohesive manner. Accordingly, electronic calendar programs have beendeveloped. Events for different categories are indicated by differentlabels or other distinguishing marks. However, having a singleelectronic calendar is still very cumbersome to use and when there aremany events for a single time span, the calendar can become veryconfusing.

In due course, electronic calendars provided the user with a pluralityof calendars, each one dedicated to a category such as home, work,school, football fixtures, golf fixtures, theatre productions etc. Anexample of which can be found in one of the personal digital assistantsprovided by PSION (Registered Trade Mark). A user of such electroniccalendars is required to enter and view events for the relevant categoryin the relevant calendar. When checking potentially conflicting events,a user must scroll through each of the calendars in turn. Managing thecalendars and various events stored in the calendars is not easy andrequires considerable organisational skills.

SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed towards animproved system for managing a plurality of calendars with differentcolors in a more cohesive manner. Some of the embodiments of the presentinvention are summarized in this section.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method to display userinterface elements on a data processing system includes: automaticallydetermining, based on a primary color, a plurality of secondary colorsfor the user interface elements; and, displaying the user interfaceelements using the plurality of secondary colors. In one example, theprimary color and the plurality of secondary colors have substantiallythe same Hue. In one example, a plurality of colors are first displayedon a display device of the data processing system; and, user input isthen received to select one of the plurality of colors as the primarycolor. In one example, the plurality of secondary colors are selectedfrom a plurality of pre-designed colors according to the primary color.In another example, color components of the plurality of secondarycolors are computed according to color components of the primary color.In one example, color components of one of the plurality of secondarycolors are computed based on color components of the primary color andcolor components of a plurality of pre-designed secondary colors, whichare associated respectively with a plurality of pre-designed primarycolors. In one example, the color components of the one of the pluralityof secondary colors are discontinuous functions of the color componentsof the primary color. In another example, the color components of theone of the plurality of secondary colors are continuous functions of thecolor components of the primary color; and, one from a plurality ofcandidates is selected to color a user interface element, where theplurality of candidates include the one of the plurality of secondarycolors. In one example, it is first determined which one of a pluralityof regions in a color space is the primary color in; and, the pluralityof secondary colors is then determined based on a result of determiningwhich one of the plurality of regions in the color space is the primarycolor in. In one example, an icon image for the user interface elementsis further generated using at least one of the plurality of secondarycolors. In one example, a plurality of icon images are first createdaccording to a plurality of image models, where each of the plurality ofimage model are associated with one of a plurality of regions a colorspace; and the plurality of icon images are then mixed according to aposition of the primary color in relation with the plurality of regionsin the color space to generate the icon image for the user interfaceelements. In one example, the plurality of regions comprises a darkcolor region and a bright color region; and, the plurality of iconimages are mixed according to a measurement of distance to a boundarythat separates the dark color region and the bright color region in thecolor space. In one example, the method includes selecting one fromcandidates including at least one of the plurality of secondary colorsto apply to one of the user interface elements. In one example, themethod further includes displaying information from a plurality ofcalendars in a calendar interface, where the primary color is associatedwith one of the plurality of calendars and the user interface elementsdisplayed using the plurality of secondary colors are associated withthe one of the plurality of calendars. In one example, an arbitrarycolor is selected as the primary color for the one of the plurality ofcalendars.

In one exemplary embodiment, a method of controlling a graphical userinterface of a data processing system involves: (a) presenting a rangeof colors which appear to vary in a substantially continuous manner; (b)receiving a user input selecting a color from said range of colors; (c)automatically determining, based on the color, a plurality of colors fora corresponding plurality of user interface elements; and (d) displayingthe plurality of user interface elements in the plurality of colors. Theprocess of automatically determining the plurality of colors may involvea predetermined mathematical process, executed by the data processingsystem, which selects the plurality colors without user intervention(after the user selects a “primary” color). The range of colors may bepresented as a substantially continuous color spectrum (e.g., a colorwheel). The user interface element may be scheduled events in multiple(e.g., home and work) calendars, and at least one of the user interfaceelements may be a graphical user interface (GUI) control (e.g., abutton) which, upon activation by a user, cause the data processingsystem to perform an action. This method of controlling a GUI may beused for only one program (e.g., a calendar program) which executes onthe data processing system, or for a set of programs (but not allprograms) which are executable on the data processing system, or for allprograms which are executable on the data processing system.

One exemplary embodiment of the present invention is related to acomputer program comprising a plurality of calendars and a userinterface wherein the improvement lies in that the user interfaceprovides an interface for two or more calendars. That is to say eachcalendar simultaneously shares the user interface. Thus, there are anumber of calendars per user in comparison to the prior art whichfocuses on a single calendar per user whereby events are distinguishedbetween each other, or a number of calendars each dedicated to aparticular category and each using separate user interfaces. Exemplarymethods of the invention and exemplary systems embodying the inventionare also described.

The present invention includes methods and apparatuses which performthese methods, including data processing systems which perform thesemethods, and computer readable media which when executed on dataprocessing systems cause the systems to perform these methods.

Other features of the present invention will be apparent from theaccompanying drawings and from the detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way offurther example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a user interface according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the user interface according to an embodiment ofthe present invention illustrating two situations, one displaying eventsfrom two calendars and the other displaying events from only onecalendar;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a user interface according to the presentinvention illustrating a different data range as the primary date range;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a user interface according to the preferredembodiment illustrating the display of events;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a user interface according to the preferringembodiment illustrating to do items;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a user interface according to the preferredembodiment illustrating a search result window;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a user interface according to the preferredembodiment illustrating overlapping events;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of part of a user interface according to thepreferred embodiment illustrating said overlapping events in moredetail;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a publish interface for publishing one of thecalendars;

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of publishing a calendar accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart for changing an event ina calendar which is published according to the present invention;

FIGS. 12-32 show example screen images of a user interface according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 33-35 show example screen images of color choosers, which can beused with embodiments of the present invention for selecting colorschemes for a plurality of user interface elements;

FIGS. 36-37 show an example interpolation scheme for the computation ofa color based on a user selected color according to one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 38 illustrates a scheme to classify colors for a discriminatoraccording to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 39-41 illustrate flow diagrams of methods to determine secondarycolors based on a primary color according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to calendar operations on adata processing system. A data processing system which may be used withembodiments of the invention typically include a display for displayinga calendar interface and a processor for controlling the display and aninput device. Examples of such data processing systems include generalpurpose computers or special purpose computers or personal digitalassistants or cellular telephones. Examples of data processing systemsare shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,222,549 which is herebyincorporated herein by reference. Often, the data processing system willinclude a memory for storing software (e.g. computer program)instructions. Embodiments of the invention may be embodied, at least inpart, in software. That is, the techniques may be carried out in acomputer system or other data processing system in response to itsprocessor, such as a microprocessor, executing sequences of instructionscontained in a memory, such as ROM, volatile RAM, non-volatile memory,cache or a remote storage device (addressable through a network). Invarious embodiments, hardwired circuitry may be used in combination withsoftware instructions to implement the present invention. Thus, thetechniques are not limited to any specific combination of hardwarecircuitry and software nor to any particular source for the instructionsexecuted by the data processing system. In addition, throughout thisdescription, various functions and operations are described as beingperformed by or caused by software code to simplify description.However, those skilled in the art will recognize what is meant by suchexpressions is that the functions result from execution of the code by aprocessor, such as the microprocessor of a data processing system.

A machine readable media can be used to store software and data whichwhen executed by a data processing system causes the system to performvarious methods of the present invention. This executable software anddata may be stored in various places including for example ROM, volatileRAM, non-volatile memory and/or cache. Portions of this software and/ordata may be stored in any one of these storage devices.

Thus, a machine readable media includes any mechanism that provides(i.e., stores and/or transmits) information in a form accessible by amachine (e.g. a computer, network device, personal digital assistant,manufacturing tool, any device with a set of one or more processors,etc.). For example, a machine readable media includesrecordable/non-recordable media (e.g. read only memory (ROM); randomaccess memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media;flash memory devices; etc.) as well as electrical, optical, acousticalor other forms of propagated signals (e.g. carrier waves, infraredsignals, digital signals, etc.); etc.

The present invention in one exemplary embodiment comprises a computerprogram having a user interface providing an interface for two or morecalendars. FIG. 1 is a diagram of such a user interface 2. The userinterface includes a number of windows 4, 6 and 8. Window 4 is titled“My Calendars”. FIG. 1 illustrates the use of the user interface withtwo calendars, namely “Home” and “Work”. The names of the calendars aredisplayed in the “My Calendars” window. Preferably, the calendars “Home”and “Work” are created by default. Other calendars may be included,especially public event calendars.

Window 6 comprises a primary date range. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the primarydate range comprises a day with a data field for each hour. In FIG. 3,the primary date range is a month. Needless to say, the primary daterange may be weekly or yearly. A selector 10 in the user interfaceenables a user to select which primary date range to display.

The primary date range includes a data field for each unit of theprimary date range. That is to say, in the daily date range, the datafields are hours, in the weekly date range, the data fields are days orhours, in the monthly date range, the data fields are days or hours andin the yearly date range, the data fields are months, weeks, days orhours. As shown in FIG. 3, the data fields may display sub-fields foreach hour of the day when the primary date range is monthly. Similarly,in the yearly date range, each data field may display sub-fields foreach day. In the daily date range, the preferred embodiment displaysonly some of the hours available.

Window 8 enables a subsidiary date range to be displayed. In FIGS. 1 and2, the subsidiary date range is monthly. A marker 12, enables the dayselected in the primary date range to be indicated in the subsidiarydate range. For example, Tuesday Feb. 5, 2002 is shown in the primarydate range and this day is indicated by the marker in the subsidiarydate range which displays February 2002.

The user interface provides a toggle or control interface 14 for eachcalendar. The user interface indicates to the user that the toggle isactivated when a tick or check mark appears next to the name of thecalendar. If a toggle is activated, then the events from the respectivecalendar are displayed by the user interface, typically by displayingthe events in a calendar interface such as a daily or weekly or monthlyview. FIG. 2, illustrates two situations for the user interface. Onesituation has the user interface displaying events from two calendars,namely “Home” and “Work” whereas the other situation has the userinterface displaying events from only one calendar, namely “Home”. Forexample, in the first situation in FIG. 2, there is an event occurringat 10 am, namely “Meeting” which is not displayed in the other situationsince this event only appears in the calendar “Work” which is notactivated.

The present invention thus enables a user to manage all of the requiredcalendars using a computer program having a single user interface andall of the 2 or more calendars may be calendars for the same userdisplaying events, meetings, etc. for that user. The user interfacesignificantly enhances the management of the events occurring over aplurality of calendars. Thus, when checking availability of a new event,a user merely needs to activate all of the relevant calendars (leavingthe other calendars not activated), and the events in all the relevant(activated) calendars are all displayed and a user can easily confirmwhether there is availability. Conversely, when considering just onecategory of events, a user merely needs to deactivate the redundantcalendars and activate only the one relating to the particular category.The user interface thus very efficiently manages the calendars on theone hand by combining all of the calendars and yet allows flexibility tofocus on one or a few calendars to minimise confusion and reducecomplexity.

FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention.In FIGS. 4 to 7, window 8 displays more than one month as the subsidiarydate range. Moreover, the marker 12, indicates a selected week. Window 6comprises the primary date range of a week with hourly data fields foreach day of the week. The user interface indicates a particular day inthe primary date range and a detailed marker 16 in the subsidiary daterange indicates the same day. For example, Tuesday 27th Aug. 2002 ishighlighted in the primary date range and the detailed marker indicatesthe same day and this is distinguished from the marker 12 in thesubsidiary date range.

FIG. 4 illustrates an event, namely “My Event”. The event is displayedas a 2-D shape, namely a rounded rectangle. The 2-D shape has boundarieswhich are approximately contiguous with the specified duration, namely 9am to 1 p.m. and thus represent the duration of the event.

In order to minimise confusion, only one of the calendars is selectedfor editing at any one time. Thus, a user selects a calendar of mostimportance in the hierarchy of all of the calendars. This is indicatedby highlighting in the user interface. For example, as shown in FIG. 4,the calendar “lala” is highlighted, thereby indicating that as the mostimportant calendar.

When a user wishes to add, select, modify or delete an event, the usermay highlight the event and double click. An interrogator interface 20is activated and displayed. The date of the event and duration aredisplayed as shown at 22. Changes can be made using the arrows. Thecalendar from which the event is taken is also displayed at 24. Theevent may be moved from one calendar to another by changing theassociated calendar appearing at 24. The details of the event aredisplayed at 26. Not only may the event be changed but also propertiesassociated with the event may be changed. For example, an alarm may beindicated and/or selected at 28. When the alarm is due, any knowncomputer program alarm may be provided such as an audio or visualannouncement. A shortcut 30 may be activated to set the duration as thewhole day or other duration depending upon the primary date range used.Another property is to set the event as recurring. A recurring event maycomprise for example Birthdays, anniversaries, regular appointments etc.

The user interface of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4 alsoincludes an additional window 40. Window 40 is entitled “To Do items”.To do items include those tasks for which a specific time is notrequired but set for a particular day, week, month or year, dependingupon the primary date range selected. In FIG. 4, the primary date rangeis weekly and the to do items are noted for a particular day. To doitems can be displayed such as that shown in FIG. 5. The to do items maybe implemented in a “Franklin Covey mode”.

FIG. 6 illustrates a user interface with an additional window 50. Window50 provides another subsidiary date range, in this case weekly. Theevents occurring in window 50 are generally of a day long duration. Sucha display is particularly useful when displaying user's holidays ornational holidays or other events of a day duration such as Birthdays.Those events are indicated by a 2-D rectangular shape with roundedcorners at the extremities of the duration. Such events are termedbanners. A banner may also be used to display a weekend or holidayperiod. The computer program is able to display such a banner withrectangular corners at the extremity of the duration when the shortcut30 is activated.

The preferred embodiment also provides for searches to be effected. Thesearches are facilitated by search interface 60. A string of charactersis entered into the search interface. A search is conducted acrossselected calendars and the search results are displayed in a searchresult window 62. For example in FIG. 6, the search string “acan” wasentered and various entries identified and displayed. The searchinterface also enables each of the events presented thereby to be viewedand/or changed and selecting one of the results in the search interfacefor changing may produce the interrogator interface as discussed above.

As discussed above, events from each toggled calendar are displayed bythe user interface. FIG. 7 illustrates the user interface according tothe preferred embodiment whereby several calendars are toggled, namely“US Holidays 2”, “lala”, “Jewish Holidays”, “testpub” and “VacancesG5”.The events from all of these toggled calendars are shown in the primarydate range. It is not uncommon for events to conflict. Thus, adistinguishing feature is provided to distinguish between conflictingevents. The distinguishing feature may comprise a different color, theshape of the event being displayed differently and/or one of the eventsbeing translucently displayed. When color is used, the name of thecalendar and each of the events or their shape take the same color.

In FIG. 7, there are two conflicting events which overlap between 11.30am and 1 p.m. The events are displayed in a translucent manner and withtheir shape reduced such that the lateral boundary does not extend thefull width of the day data field. FIG. 8 illustrates this in moredetail. In this case, there are two conflicting events with the evententitled “New event” at 10.30 am. The other events “New event” at 9.15am and “envoyer list bug” are reduced in size and aligned with the leftperimeter of the day data field whereas the event “New event” at 10.30am is reduced in size and aligned with the right perimeter of the daydata field. Moreover, event “New event” at 1030 am is made translucentso that event “New event” at 9.15 am can be seen there through and event“envoyer list bug” is overlaid.

Two features of embodiments of the present invention are the instantaccess to data and the natural selection and visualisation of othersources of events. The present invention may contain a large multitudeof events, in particular because of its ability to include manycalendars within a calendar interface for a user. Thus, it becomescritical for a user to quickly and easily find relevant data in a givencontext. For example, during work hours, a user must be able to easilyfind meetings concerning a given project, by selecting only the workcalendar and searching for the given project. However, at home, the sameuser, with the same computer program and user interface must have a wayto easily find social details such as the soccer matches for any giventeam, again through selecting only the relevant calendars and searchingfor the given team. The user is thus provided with a live textual searchsystem and related navigational facilities.

Embodiments of the present invention thus achieve the objectives ofenabling a user to manage all of the required calendars using a computerprogram having a single user interface. The user interface significantlyenhances the management of the events occurring over a plurality ofcalendars. Thus, when checking availability of a new event, a usermerely needs to activate (e.g. “toggle”) all of the relevant calendars,whose events are all displayed and a user can easily confirm whetherthere is availability. Conversely, when considering just one category ofevents, a user merely needs to deactivate (e.g. “de-toggle”) theredundant calendars and activate only the one relating to the particularcategory. The user interface thus very efficiently manages the calendarson the one hand by combining all of the calendars and yet allowsflexibility to focus on one or a few calendars to minimise confusion andreduce complexity.

Preferably the computer program is operative on a data processing systemsuch as a computer such as one of the Macintosh personal computers fromthe applicant, Apple Computer Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., USA. Morepreferably the computer program is operative in the MacOS x version10.2, known as Jaguar (Registered Trade Mark). Moreover, the computerprogram is complementary to Mail and Address Book computer applicationsalso available from Apple for full personal information management.Needless to say, the computer program is compatible with printingapplications and functions. Embodiments of the present invention mayalso be used on other types of data processing systems such as apersonal digital assistant (PDA) (e.g. a Palm PDA or a Pocket PC) or acell phone with a calendar system or a music player, such as an iPodfrom Apple.

In addition, the computer program is compliant with standards forcalendaring applications such as iCal and vCal (both Registered TradeMarks) and allows import of data from other applications like Entourage(Registered Trade Mark) available from Microsoft. Further details can beobtained from http://www.imc.org/draft-ietf-calsch-inetcal-guide. Thecomputer program is also compatible with the iTools web serviceavailable from Apple in order to share calendar data easily over theInternet.

In view of the compatibility discussed above and in particular with theoperating system, the computer program enables copy and paste with otherapplications, drag and drop facilities, use of the spellchecker,integration with email applications and integration with addressapplications for management of personal information.

Moreover, the preferred embodiment also provides a publish and subscribeuser interface for providing one or more calendars to others and/or forsubscriber to other calendars. FIG. 9 illustrates a publish interfacefor facilitating the publication of the selected calendar. In thepublish interface, one of the calendars is selected at 90. A user mayset preferences associated with the selected published calendar. Forexample, all changes effected on the calendar are publishedautomatically at 92. All notes and events are included at 94. Any alarmsset can also be included or not in the published calendar at 95 sincethese may not be relevant to a subscriber. Similarly any to do items canbe included or not in the published calendar at 96. Finally, the publishinterface enables the calendar to be published either over the Internetor on a server at 97. Confirmation or cancellation can be effected viabuttons 98. Finally, a status of the publication is indicated at 99.

Details of a method of managing a calendar by publishing and subscribingis described in one of our other copending applications, applicationSer. No. 453,193, filed on Jun. 2, 2003 and entitled “A Method OfManaging A Calendar And A Computer System For Implementing That Method.”Although this other application is incorporated herein by reference infull, relevant details of which are as follows:

FIG. 10 illustrates schematically a computer server 200 on which isstored a calendar 400 containing at least one event. A number ofsubscriber electronic devices 600 a, 600 b etc are each connected to theserver 200. In the preferred embodiment, the computer server is providedover the Internet and the subscribers are computers connectedintermittently to the server. Alternatively, the server could comprise alocal area network to which the subscribers are connected permanently.The electronic devices could comprise any form of electronic device suchas a notebook or laptop computer, personal digital assistant, mobiletelephone, palm device etc.

The server 200 has stored thereon the calendar of events 400. Thecalendar 400 is downloaded and stored on each of the subscribers to forma local calendar 800 a, 800 b etc. The local calendar is stored in thesame electronic format as on the server. The preferred embodimentenables the local calendar to be stored with a subscriber calendar 1000a, 1000 b etc. In particular, the local calendar and the subscribercalendar both share the same user interface as described herein.

The present invention may also include a viewer electronic device 1200.A viewer 1200 may access the calendar stored on the server but may notdownload the same to form a local calendar. In order for a viewer tobecome a subscriber, the viewer must pay a subscriber fee.

A viewer electronic device may comprise any of the same subscriberelectronic devices, for example a notebook or laptop computer, personaldigital assistant, mobile telephone, palm device etc and be connected inany of the arrangements as for a subscriber. Depending upon theelectronic device involved any suitable electronic connection may bemade as is well known in the art including USB, serial ports, firewire,bluetooth, infrared and over the Internet.

The preferred embodiment also enables a subscriber 600 b to publishtheir local calendar 1000 b to the server 200 or for viewing by a viewer1200. Another subscriber, such as 600 a may download the published localcalendar 1000 b to form a local subscriber calendar 1000 a/b. The viewermay view the local calendar stored on the server 1000 b or directly ifconnected to the subscriber.

The subscribers may also be connected directly. In this case, asubscriber 6 a may publish the local calendar 1000 a to the othersubscriber 600 b which is then stored to form a local subscribercalendar 1000 b/a stored on subscriber 600 b.

The present invention provides for any number of calendars to beprovided by the server or any number of electronic devices eithersubscriber or viewer to be included.

Many calendars are not static. Static calendars include those relatingto national holidays, birthdays, daylight saving transition dates, tidedata etc. However, many calendars are not static and events need to beadded, modified or deleted. All of these are termed as changes. FIG. 11illustrates schematically changes to be effected on a calendar which ispublished.

In the first instance a change may be made to a calendar in operation2000. If the change occurs on a calendar 400 stored on the server 200,then each subscriber 600 a, 600 b, downloads the change in operation2200 and the local calendar 800 a, 800 b is updated in operation 2400.If the change occurs on a local calendar 1000 a stored on a subscriber,then the calendar, if sent directly to another subscriber 600 b, isdownloaded by the subscriber 600 b and the local subscriber calendar1000 b/a is updated. If the local calendar 1000 b is published on theserver 200, then the local calendar 1000 b is republished in operation2600. The other subscriber 1000 a, downloads the republished calendar1000 b and updates the local subscriber calendar 1000 a/b storedthereon.

The preferred embodiment also provides for a dialog between usersoperating the subscriber devices in order to confirm, disagree or amendany changes. A user of one of the subscribers may send a notification tothe other subscriber in operation 2800. The recipient subscriber mayreply to confirm the change in operation 3000. The change is theneffected on the calendar and the change implemented on the localcalendar as discussed above. The recipient subscriber may reply todisagree or amend the proposed change in operation 3200. The subscriberand recipient may conduct this dialog between notifying 2800 andreplying 3200 until a reply to confirm 3000 is received. The change isthen effected as discussed above.

The server or subscriber generating the calendar 400, 1000 a or 1000 bmay provide for the recipient subscriber to view the calendar only oreffect changes. Other preferences may be determined by the server orsubscriber. Such preferences include the time period between makingchanges to the calendar and downloading those changes. Other preferencesinclude merely notifying a user of a subscriber of a change. All suchpreferences are facilitated through the use of a user interface such asdescribed above and shown in FIG. 9.

The present invention thus enables events from more than one calendar tobe disseminated and organised in a method which is more manageable. Inparticular, events do not need to be re-entered onto the userselectronic calendar thereby avoiding errors and the user can selectivelychoose events from certain calendars to be included in their localcalendar. Moreover, the method provides for changes being effected and adialog between at least two users for confirming on changes to be made.

Thus, through publishing and subscribing to other users calendars andpublic calendars, the need for facilitating the management of all ofthat data is achieved through the use of a single user interface.

To assist a user in appreciating which calendars are specific to theuser or those which are subscribed, a tag 100 as shown in FIG. 5 isused. Those calendars which include alarms associated with an eventinclude a tag 102.

To enhance the security of data integrity and reduce complexity, it ispreferred that data involved in the computer program is alwayssynchronised across various electronic devices. A method ofsynchronising three or more electronic devices is described in one ofour other copending applications, application Ser. No. 453,051, filed onJun. 2, 2003 and entitled “A Method Of Synchronizing Three Or MoreElectronic Devices And A Computer System For Implementing That Method.”

FIGS. 12-32 show example screen images of a user interface according toone embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 12, the panel titled“Calendars” (337) shows a list of calendars that are viewable throughthe user interface. Each calendar may contain information such as events(including subjects and notes), alarms, to do items, and otherinformation, associated with specific days and time. In FIG. 12, twocalendars, titled “Home” and “Work” respectively, are shown in thepanel; and, checkboxes 333 and 335 indicate whether or not theinformation of the corresponding calendars is to be displayed in theviewer (e.g., table 327). If a checkbox (e.g., 333) is checked, theinformation from the corresponding calendar (e.g., “Work”) is displayedin the viewer; otherwise, the information from the correspondingcalendar is not displayed. In one embodiment, one of the calendars canbe selectively highlighted (e.g., 331) so that the highlighted calendaris regarded as the default calendar; when a user adds a new event (or todo item) using the viewer (e.g., table 327), the new event is added tothe default calendar unless the user specifies a different calendar.

In FIG. 12, view 327 presents information in a table format. Thecalendars can be viewed one “Day” (305) at time, or one “Week” (307) ata time or one “Month” (309) at a time. A user can switch betweendifferent viewing formats through selecting one of buttons 305, 307 and309 to view according to day, week or month. In FIG. 12, the button 305is selected and lighted; the calendars are viewed one day at a time;title 325 shows the date of the day being viewed; and, timeline 339shows the time of the day for the information marked on the calendars onthis day. If button 307 (or 309) is pressed for viewing information oneweek (or one month) at a time, the view presents information in a tableformat accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 17 (or FIG. 18). Icon button323 can be pressed to show or hide the list of to do items.

In FIG. 12, icon button 303 is for hiding or displaying the mini-monthpanel. In FIG. 12, the mini-month panel is hidden. If the user pressesbutton 303, a mini-month panel is displayed, as shown in FIG. 13. InFIG. 13, mini-month 341 shows days within one or more months so that auser can easily select a particular day (or week, or month) for viewing.In the mini-month panel, arrow buttons 343 and 345 can be used to bringthe previous months or subsequent months into the mini-month panel fordisplay. For example, in FIG. 13, the days in August and September arecurrently displayed in the mini-month panel. If arrow button 343 ispressed once, the days in July will be brought into the mini-month panel(and the days in September will be shifted out of the mini-month panel).Similarly, if arrow button 345 is pressed once, the days in October willbe brought into the mini-month (and the days in August will be shiftedout of the mini-month panel). In FIG. 13, if icon button 303 is pressed,the mini-month panel will be hidden, as in FIG. 12. Similarly, arrowbuttons 311 and 313, as shown in FIG. 12, can also be used to select theprevious or the next day (or week, or month) for viewing when the viewis displaying information one day (or one week, or one month) at a time.For example, in FIG. 12, Aug. 28, 2003 is displayed; if the user pressesbutton 311 once, Aug. 27, 2003 will be displayed, as illustrated in FIG.16. Similarly, if button 313 in FIG. 16 is pressed once, the day forviewing will be changed from Aug. 27, 2003 to Aug. 28, 2003.

In FIG. 12, icon button 301 can be pressed to create a new calendar. Forexample, if icon button 301 is pressed in FIG. 12, a new calendar named“Untitled” (351) is created, as illustrated in FIG. 14. A default name,such as “Untitled”, is provided for the new calendar. Further, input box351 accepts text inputs for a replacement name, if the user chooses todo so, immediately after the new calendar is created. Various attributesof the calendar can be set (e.g., by highlighting the calendar as thedefault calendar and pressing information button 317). Informationbutton 317 can be used to invoke a user interface to inspect and adjustthe attributes of a selected calendar (or a selected event, or aselected to do item). For example, in FIG. 14, when information button317 is pressed, “calendar info” window is displayed, as shown in FIG.15. Using the “calendar info” window, the name of the calendar can beadjusted in field 353; and, a primary color can be selected for thecalendar using color chooser 355. Once a user selects a primary color(e.g., orange) for a calendar, information from the calendar aredisplayed using user interface elements with the primary color andsecondary colors that have the same color tint as the primary color foreasy recognition. In one embodiment of the present invention, anarbitrary color can be chosen for a calendar as the primary color; and,the secondary colors for the user interface elements associated withthis calendar are automatically generated from the primary color of thecalendar. Further details on the determination of the secondary colorsfor the user interface elements according to a selected primary colorare described further below.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the information in thecalendars can be searched. For example, in FIG. 18, text entry 315 canbe used to input one or more search terms. For example, if a search term(e.g., “big” 363) is typed in text entry 315, a search result panel(365) appears automatically, as shown in FIG. 19. In FIG. 19, the viewpanel is reduced in size to make room for the search result panel (365).If the text in text entry 315 is cleared, the search result panel ishidden automatically. Alternatively, a user may press button 319 to hideor show the search result panel.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the user can directly createan event in the default calendar (e.g., calendar “Work” 331 highlightedin FIG. 20) using the viewer (e.g., by entering text that representingthe subject of the event on a location that corresponds to a time slotin the viewer). For example, the user may generate a new event which isrepresented on the viewer as patch 371, resize the patch to change thetime span of the event, and use “event info” window to view, set orchange the attributes of the events. The “event info” window may beinvoked through double clicking on the event (371), or pressinginformation button 317 while the event is selected, or through a voicecommand to a voice recognition system, or through other methods. In the“event info” window, the user may select tabs 381-389 to see the userinterfaces for adjustment of general event attributes, alarm settings,options for repetitions, invitation, and notes for the event. FIG. 20shows some general event attributes, such as subject 373, calendar color375, time span information and others.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the default calendar canalso be toggled for display or not display. For example, after thecreation of event 371, a user may toggle button 333 to hide the eventfor the default calendar 331, which is currently being highlighted;then, the user interface may appear as illustrated in FIG. 21. In FIG.21, calendar 331 is still highlighted. Since button 333 for calendar 331is not checked, events for calendar 331 are not displayed in viewer 327(e.g., event 371 is not displayed). The events for other calendars thatare checked for display are display in the viewer for the day (or week,or month) indicated by the title of the viewer (325).

In FIG. 22, button 321 can be used to display or hide the address cardsfor inviting guests to events. When button 321 is pressed to display theaddress cards, the address information in one or more address books(which may be maintained by the program with calendars or by otherprograms that the program with calendars can communicate with) aredisplayed. For example, in FIG. 22, a list of address cards is displayedin window 397 so that the user can selectively invite guests to events.Search box 393 can be used to search for a particular guest. In FIG. 22,the name and email information are displayed for each address card. Toinvite a guest to an event, one can drag an address card into the event(e.g., by clicking and holding a button of a mouse when the curser is onname 391 or email 395, controlling the mouse to move the curser into aregion representing event 371 and releasing the button while the curseris in the region representing event 371). When one or more guests areinvited, an icon is displayed on the title of the event (e.g., icon 399in FIG. 23). In one embodiment of the present invention, the invitationis sent through email. Once the address card is dropped in the event,the email address for the invited guest is kept for an email message(e.g., a message generated automatically based on the informationcollected for the event).

FIG. 23 illustrates one example of setting alarms for an event. In FIG.23, one may set an alarm at a time specified by the user (e.g., 15minutes before the event) as at least one of: a message displayed on thedisplay device of the data processing system on which the program withcalendars is running, an email message, and a playback of an audio clip.

FIGS. 24 and 25 illustrate examples of specifying an event forrepetitions. FIG. 24 shows that the event is not set to repeat. However,a use may designate the event as a daily (or weekly, or monthly, etc)event using selection box 403, as illustrated in FIG. 25. In FIG. 25,the event is specified as a daily event that repeats every one (1) dayand never ends. The use can set the period (or frequency) for therepetition of the event and the time when the repetition ends. When theevent is set to repeat, an icon (e.g., 407) appears on the title bar forthe event to indicate that the event is a recurring event.

FIG. 26 shows an example of managing invitations for an event. In FIG.26, a listed of invitees are shown, with status information to indicatewhether the invitation is still pending, or already sent. A user can usethe interface to send invitations using button 411, if the invitationfor an invitee is still pending.

FIG. 27 shows an example of displaying two events overlapping in time.When two events overlap in time, the event patches (e.g., 413 and 371)are displayed as cascaded images so that the user can clearly see theindividual patches as well as the overlapping. In FIG. 27, the twoevents are in the calendar 331, the default calendar (“Work”); and, theevent patches from the default calendar (e.g., 413 and 371) aredisplayed with high contrast for highlighting. In FIG. 28, the defaultcalendar becomes calendar 415 (“Home”), the event patches from thenon-default calendar (e.g., 413 and 371) are displayed with low contrast(and with translucency) so that the events from the default calendar, ifthere is any, will be apparent among the events from the non-defaultcalendars.

FIG. 29 illustrates an example to subscribe to an calendar. After theuser enters the URL (Universal Resource Locator) of the calendar to besubscribed (e.g., in entry box 423) and presses button “subscribe”(425), the program downloads calendar information from the specified URLto create a subscribed calendar. A user may selectively removeinformation (e.g., alarms, to do items, etc. from the subscribedcalendar). Further, the user may specify a period for the program toautomatically refresh the subscribed calendar (e.g., periodicallydownload the calendar information from the specified URL to update thesubscribed calendar). For example, after the user subscribes to acalendar “US Holidays” at URL 423 (FIG. 29), a new calendar (427)appears in the list of calendars, as shown in FIG. 30. In FIG. 30,holidays (e.g., 431) appears in the viewer with other events from thecalendars selected for display. In FIG. 30, event 433 is a repeatingevent; and, the viewer automatically displays the expected occurrences433 and 435 according the repetition period of the event.

FIG. 31 shows an example of selectively publish a calendar on a server(e.g., on Mac or a web server). A user may choose to publish or notpublish the changes automatically; and, the user may specify the typesof information (e.g., subjects, alarms, to do items) that are publishedwith the calendar. Thus, with the capability of publishing andsubscribing to one or more calendars, users of different data processingsystems at different locations can easily cooperate with each other(e.g., in scheduling events and to do items).

In one embodiment of the present invention, each calendar is assignedone color. For example, in FIG. 32, calendar 501 is in one color (e.g.,orange); and, calendar 503 is in another color (e.g., blue). Userinterface elements for different calendars have the colors of differenttints based on the respective colors of the calendars for easyrecognition. For example, event 505 of orange calendar 501 is displayedwith colors of orange tint. For example, title 505 is in a darker orangebackground; and, subject 509 is in a gradient background with orangetint (e.g., with a slightly darker orange color on the left hand side511 and a slighter brighter orange color on the right hand side 513).Further, to do items for different calendars are also displayed withdifferent colors, which are derived from their respective calendarcolors. For example, to do item 515 of calendar 501 is displayed with anorange foreground text color; and, strips 517 for to do item 515 arepainted with solid colors of an orange tint. Further, icon 519 for a todo item has an image generated with a tint of the respective calendar.Similarly, event 507 of blue calendar 503 is displayed with a blue tint;and, to do item 521 of blue calendar 503 is displayed with a blueforeground text color, blue strips and an icon with a blue tint.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a set of limited maincalendar colors are pre-designed for a number of calendars. For the setof limited main colors, the colors of various user interface elements(e.g., the background color of the title bar of an event, the colors forthe generation of the gradient background of the subject of the event,the color for the generation of an icon image for a to do item or thecheckbox of a calendar, the foreground text color of a to do item, etc.)are pre-designed for each of the set of limited main calendar colors.The colors for the user interface elements are pre-designed in terms ofboth aesthetic criteria and readability. Thus, when a user selects onefrom the set of main colors for a calendar (e.g., using the colorselection box 375 in FIG. 20), the program automatically uses the set ofcolors pre-designed for the selected main calendar color in differentuser interface elements associated with the calendar.

However, if the calendar colors can be chosen only from the set ofpre-designed main calendar colors, at least two of the calendars willhave the same color when the number of calendars exceeds the number ofmain calendar colors. To avoid the same colors for the calendars andprovide more options for users to select a main calendar color, oneembodiment of the present invention automatically generates the colorsof various user interface elements for a user selected, arbitrary maincalendar color (e.g., using an interpolation scheme based on the set ofpre-designed main colors and the pre-designed colors for the userinterface elements for their respective main calendar colors). Thus, auser may arbitrarily select the main color for a calendar (e.g., using acolor chooser as illustrated in FIGS. 33-35), without having to selectfrom a limited set of pre-designed colors. FIG. 33 shows a userinterface which presents, in one exemplary embodiment, a color wheelwhich resembles a full color spectrum (e.g., a rainbow). The colors inthe color wheel may be displayed such that the range of colors appear tovary in a substantially continuous manner (e.g., from shade of red toshade of orange, etc.) It will be appreciated that the colors may varyin steps (in a quantized manner) but that the variation will normally beperceived as substantially continuous. For example, in FIG. 33, the usermay click on point 535 to select a color (e.g., to select a color forone calendar which will differ from other calendars displayed in acalendar interface), where regions 541, 543 and 545 provide variousshades of green, blue and red colors with different saturation along theradius of the color wheel. In FIG. 33, slider 533 controls thebrightness of the selected color; and, the selected color is displayedin area 531. Alternatively, a use may use sliders (e.g., RGB sliders,such as blue slider 555, in FIG. 34) to select a color value for a colorcomponent or directly specify the color value for the color component(e.g., blue value in entry box 557 in FIG. 34), or select one color froma color palette (e.g., palette illustrated in FIG. 35). The color chosenby the user is then used as the main color of the calendar. Once themain color of the calendar is selected, the colors of the user interfaceelements associated with the calendar are automatically determined, bythe data processing system without user intervention, for the calendar(e.g., text colors, header colors, colors for the generation of iconimages, gradient background, etc).

In one embodiment of the present invention, different colors for userinterface elements associated with a calendar are individually computedfor the selected calendar color using an interpolation scheme (which isa predetermined mathematical process) based the pre-designed colors forthe user interface elements from the pre-designed main calendar colors.For example, a color for a user interface element (e.g., a darker colorof the same color tint, which can be used as the background color of anevent header 505) may be represented as 3 components (H, S, B), where His the Hue, S the saturation, and B the brightness. For thepres-designed main calendar color (H^(m) _(i), S^(m) _(i), B^(m) _(i)),the respective pre-designed color for the user interface element is(H^(p) _(i), S^(p) _(i), B^(p) _(i)), where i=1, 2, . . . , n; and, n isthe total number of pres-designed main colors. When a user selects acalendar color (H_(s), S_(s), B_(s)) an interpolation scheme is used tocompute the color for the user element (H_(c), S_(c), B_(c)) based on(H_(s), S_(s), B_(s)), (H^(m) _(i), S^(m) _(i), B^(m) _(i)), and (H^(p)_(i), S^(p) _(i), B^(p) _(i)) (i=1,2, . . . , n). For example, apiecewise linear interpolation function may be used to interpolate theHue, Saturation and Brightness according to H_(s), S_(s) and B_(s). Ingeneral, a three-dimensional interpolation function is constructed toperform the interpolation. It is understood that various numericalschemes known in the field of numerical analyses can be used toconstruct the interpolation. Further different constraints can beapplied to the interpolation for various aesthetic reasons, readabilityrequirements, and others.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the overall interpolationfunctions for a color of a user interface element (e.g., a foregroundtext color) may be a discontinuous function of the selected maincalendar color. If all interpolation functions for different userinterface elements are interpolated using continuous functions, it ispossible that one selected calendar color may lead to the same color (orvery similar colors) for the foreground and background of a userinterface element. This would cause readability problems, since theforeground and background are undistinguishable (or very difficult todistinguish from each other). Thus, for some user interface elementcolors, interpolations with discontinuities can be used to such that thecomputed colors are pleasing in terms of both aesthetic criteria andreadability.

In one embodiment of the present invention, two continuous piecewiselinear interpolation functions are used for the computation of one userinterface element color for the selected main calendar colors in twodifferent regions in the color space (e.g., a dark region and a brightregion). When the selected color for the calendar is in a first regionin the color space, a first piecewise linear interpolation function isused to compute the user interface color; when the selected color forthe calendar is in a second region in the color space, a secondpiecewise linear interpolation function is used to compute the userinterface color. For example, when the selected main calendar color is abright color, one interpolation scheme (e.g., a piecewise linearinterpolation) is used to compute a foreground color for text that is ona gradient background; and, when the selected calendar color is a darkcolor, another interpolation scheme (e.g., a constant color, such aswhite) is used to obtain the foreground color. Thus, the overallinterpolation function for the user interface color may be discontinuous(e.g., the computed color jumps when the selected main calendar colormoves from a light region to a dark region). It is understood that thecolor space may be divided into more than two regions for discontinuousinterpolation (e.g., for readability and aesthetic criteria). From thisdescription, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that theinterpolation functions for the colors can be designed such that thecomputed colors from the interpolation functions are aestheticallypleasing and suitable for reading when used in displaying the userinterface elements.

FIGS. 36-37 show an example interpolation scheme for the computation ofa color based on a user selected color according to one embodiment ofthe present invention. To simplify the interpolation, one embodiment ofthe present invention uses a linear interpolation to first locate thecontrol points on a SB plane (e.g., a plane in the HSB color space witha constant Hue (H) value but different Saturation (S) and Brightness (B)values). FIG. 36 illustrates an example of the linear interpolation of acontrol point. On SB plane 601 where H=h₁, the control point is at M₁(611); and, on SB plane 605 where H=h₂, the control point is at M₂(615). Using a linear interpolation scheme (or other higher orderinterpolation schemes, which may use known control points on more thantwo SB planes), the position of the control point M_(x) on SB plane 603where H=h_(x) can be obtained. In FIG. 36, the linear interpolation fordifferent Hue values is represented by line segment M₁M₂ in the HSBcolor space. Once the control points in the SB plane where H=h_(x) arelocated, a two-dimensional interpolation scheme can be used tointerpolate the color in SB plane, as illustrated in FIG. 37. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the interpolation is such that thecomputed color has the same Hue value h_(x) as the selected main color.

FIG. 37 illustrates a mapping (641) between the derived colors and theselected colors in SB planes. In SB plane 643 for the selected colors,line segment B₁B₂ (629 and 628) represent the black point (B=0); point W(625) represents the white point; point F (627) has full saturation andbrightness for the given Hue of the SB plane; and, point C (621) is acontrol point inside SB plane 643. In SB plane 645 for the derivedcolors (which has the same Hue value of SB plane 643), point P_(B) (639)represents the color derived from the black point (B₁ and B₂); pointP_(W) (635) represents the color derived from the white point (W); and,points PC (631) and P_(F) (637) represent the colors derived from pointsC (621) and F (627) respectively. Thus, an interpolation scheme can beused to map an arbitrary point for a selected color in B₁B₂FW to acorresponding point for a derived color in P_(B)P_(F)P_(W). For example,a linear interpolation can map a selected color M (623) in CFW to thecorresponding derived color P_(M) (633) in P_(C)P_(F)P_(W); and, regionB₁B₂C is mapped into line segment P_(B)P_(C).

In one embodiment of the present invention, a designer selects thepoints C, P_(C), P_(B), P_(W) and P_(F) for each of a set of differentHue values (e.g., for the pre-designed main calendar colors). When auser selected an arbitrary color with Hue h_(x), the points C, P_(C),P_(B), P_(W) and P_(F) in the SB plane of the user selected Hue valueh_(x) are obtained from the linear interpolation scheme as illustratedin FIG. 36 from the corresponding points in the pre-designed SB planesthat have Hue values close to the user selected Hue value h_(x). Then, amapping in the SB plane of the user selected Hue value, as illustratedin FIG. 37, is used to determine the derived color.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a number of colors ofdifferent characteristics are derived from a user-selected primarycolor. For example, one derived color is brighter than primary color,one derived color darker than the primary color, and one color close tothe primary color. These colors are typically selected based onaesthetic and functional reasons; and, continuous interpolationfunctions are used to generate these derived colors. These colors arethen assigned different roles in user interface elements. For example, adark derived color may be used for the background of the title for anevent (e.g., title bar 505 in FIG. 32); and, two derived colors that areclose to the primary color are used for the generation of the gradientbackground (e.g., subject field 509 in FIG. 32). However, assigningcolors solely based on the characteristics of the derived colors (e.g.,darker or brighter than the primary color, close to the primary color)can lead to readability issues. Thus, in one embodiment of the presentinvention, at least some of the user interface elements have two or morederived colors as candidates. A discriminator selects one from thecandidates for the color of the user interface element to ensurereadability. For example, strokeColor is a very dark variant of theprimary color; gradientStartColor is a color close to, while a littledarker than, the primary color; gradientEndColor is a color close to,while a little brighter than, the primary color; fillColor is a brightvariant of the primary color; and, textColor is a dark variant of theprimary color. However, if the textColor is used as the foreground colorof the text, there may be readability issues for the text on a gradientbackground when the primary color is a dark color. Thus, the foregroundcolor for the text on a gradient background has two candidates:textColor and white (or fillColor). A discriminator selects one from thetwo candidates to avoid readability problems. For example, thediscriminator selects textColor as the foreground color for the text onthe gradient background if the primary color is light and white (orfillColor) as the foreground color if the primary color is dark.

FIG. 38 illustrates a scheme to classify colors for a discriminatoraccording to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 38, threepoints in a SB plane of a given Hue value are used to separate thecolors in the SB plane into bright colors and dark colors. In FIG. 38,point L₁ (661) has S=0, representing a delimiting point in gray scalethat separates the bright grays and dark grays. Point L₂ on SB plane 651has full saturation; and, point L_(C) is selected to best separate thebright and dark colors using lines L₁L_(C) and L_(C)L₂. In oneembodiments, control points L_(C) and L₂ are determined for a number ofconstant Hue planes for the set of pre-designed main calendar colors;and, a linear interpolation as illustrated in FIG. 36 is used for thedetermination of corresponding controls points on other constant Hueplanes.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a measurement of distance tothe delimitating line (e.g., L₁L_(C)L₂) is established. For example, thedelimitating line can be mapped so that the measurement of distance tothe delimitating line is 0 when a color is on the delimitating line andthe measurement of distance to the delimitating line is 1 when the colorhas full brightness. A discriminator can use the delimitating line toselect colors from candidates for readability. Alternatively, adiscriminator can select different interpolation scheme (or differentsets of control points) for interpolating based on primary colors indifferent regions (e.g., using a set of control points for piecewiselinear interpolation to generate a darker color when the primary coloris a bright color and using a constant white color when the primarycolor is a dark color). Further, the discriminator can use themeasurement of distance to the delimitating line for the generation oficon images.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an icon image is generatedaccording to one or more given colors based on one or more layers ofimages. For example, an icon image for a checkbox with “glass” effectand a shadow can be produced with layers: shadow, color base, upperglass effect, lower glass effect, frame and check mark. Each layer mayreference to an image, a color, a filter, and an alpha function fortransparency. Since the icon image is computed based on the given layerinformation, derived colors based on a primary color can also be used tocustomize the icon image. In one embodiment of the present invention, adiscriminator is used to select different effects and filters fordifferent types of colors (e.g., glass effect are generated differentlyfor a dark primary color and a bright primary color). For example,different layers and filters can be selected based on whether or not theprimary color is bright or dark.

Since the discriminator causes discontinuity in the generation of iconimages (e.g., when the primary color changes from bright to dark, theicon image model jumps from one to another), one may observerinconsistent icon appearances. To provide more consistent appearances,in one embodiment of the present invention, the icon models fordifferent primary colors are mixed according to the closeness of theprimary color to the delimitating line. For example, the icon model fora bright primary color can be corrected by mixing it with the darkversion according to the closeness of the primary color to thedelimitating line.

FIGS. 39-41 illustrate flow diagrams of methods to determine secondarycolors based on a primary color according to embodiments of the presentinvention. In FIG. 39, after operation 701 receives input selecting aprimary color for a set of user interface elements (e.g., thoseassociated with a particular calendar), operation 703 determines aplurality of secondary colors for the user interface elements based onthe primary color. The plurality of secondary colors may be selectedfrom a set of pre-designed colors according to the primary color orcomputed according to the components of the primary color. Some of theplurality of secondary colors can be discontinuous functions forimproved readability when applied to the user interface elements.Alternatively, the plurality of secondary colors can be selectivelyapplied to the user interface elements to avoid readability problems.Operation 705 displays the user interface elements using the primarycolor and the secondary colors. When the secondary colors areselectively applied to the user interface elements according to thecharacteristics of the primary color (e.g., whether the primary color isa dark color or a bright color), the color applied to the user interfaceelement is in general a discontinuous function of the primary color.

In FIG. 40, after operation 701 receives a primary color (e.g., from acolor chooser as illustrated in FIG. 33, 34 or 35), operation 713determines which one of a plurality of regions (e.g., a dark colorregion, a bright color region) in a color space (e.g., HSB) is theprimary color in. After operation 715 selects a scheme to determine asecondary color based on the region the primary color is in, operation717 determines the secondary color according to the selected scheme. Forexample, if the primary color is a dark color and the required secondarycolor is a bright color, a scheme to generate a bright color is selectedto generate the required secondary color (or a white color is used);however, if the primary color is a bright color and the requiredsecondary color is a bright color, a scheme to generate a dark color canbe selected to generate the required secondary color (or a black coloris used). Alternatively, a plurality of secondary colors of differentcharacteristics can be generated using continuous interpolationfunctions of the primary color; and, the plurality of secondary colorsare applied to the user interfaces in a way consistent with the regionthe primary color is in for improved readability. Similarly, the imagemodel for the generation of an icon image can also be selectivelydetermined based on the result of operation 713. Further, icon imagesgenerated according to different image models can be mixed according toa parameter that weights the different models based on a measurement ofthe relative position of the primary color in relation to the regions inthe color space to generate the final icon image for the user interfaceelement (e.g., checkbox 333 in FIG. 12).

FIG. 41 illustrates one method to generate a secondary color accordingto a primary color from interpolation according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. After operation 721 receives a primary color (H_(S),S_(S), B_(S)), operation 723 determines pre-designed primary colors(H^(m) ₁, S^(m) ₁, B^(m) ₁) and (H^(m) ₂, S^(m) ₂, B^(m) ₂) that areclose to the primary color (H_(S), S_(S), B_(S)) in hue. For example,H^(m) ₁ and H^(m) ₂ are the closest values among all n pre-designedprimary colors (H^(m) _(i), S^(m) _(i), B^(m) _(i)) (i=1,2, . . . , n)such that H^(m) ₁≦H_(S)≦H^(m) ₂. Operation 725 then determines controlpoints for SB plane H=H_(s) from an interpolation based on pre-designedcontrol points for SB planes H=H^(m) ₁ and H=H^(m) ₂. For example, thepositions of control points C 621, P_(C) 631, P_(B) 639, P_(W) 635 andP_(F) 637 (shown in FIG. 37) can be determined from the linearinterpolation from adjacent SB planes, as illustrated in FIG. 36.Operation 727 then determines S_(X) and B_(X) of a secondary color fromthe control points for SB plane H=H_(S). The hue of the secondary coloris the same as the hue of the primary color (e.g., H_(X)=H_(S)). Thus,the secondary color has the same color tint as the primary color so thata user can easily relate the secondary color to the primary color.

Although the above methods of deriving colors and generating icon imagesbased on an arbitrary selected primary color are described for thedisplay of user interface elements of different calendars, it isunderstood that these methods can also be used for the color schemeselection for the user interface elements of other types ofapplications. For example, a desktop environment may involve a number ofdifferent colors for different user interface elements (e.g., foregroundand background colors for menu bars and menu items, foreground andbackground colors for text fields, text highlight color, colors of 3Dshaped buttons and image icons, color for window title bar, colors forgradient background, window resize control, and others). Based on a setof pre-designed primary colors (e.g., background theme colors) andpre-designed secondary colors that are associated with the primarycolors, interpolation schemes can be designed to allow the computationof the secondary colors for the corresponding user interface elementsonce the user selects an arbitrary primary color (e.g., the backgroundtheme color of a desktop environment). Thus, the colors of a set ofrelated user interface elements can be automatically computed from asingle user selected color. Further, a computed color may be furtheradjusted or fine tuned by user (e.g., within a given range) according tothe preferences of the user; after such adjustment, the correspondinginterpolation function can be adjusted accordingly to reflect thepreferences of the user.

Some the examples of color interpolation for the computation ofsecondary colors based on a user selected primary color are illustratedin HSB space. However, it is understood that the color interpolation canalso be performed in other color spaces (e.g., RGB).

The foregoing description has been given by way of example only and itwill be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that modificationscan be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1. A method to display user interface elements on a data processingsystem, the method comprising: automatically determining, based on aprimary color, a plurality of secondary colors for the user interfaceelements, wherein the plurality of secondary colors are assigneddifferent roles in the user interface elements and wherein a first userinterface element is assigned a first secondary color from the pluralityof secondary colors and wherein a second user interface element isassigned one of the plurality of secondary colors based on a firstcharacteristic of the second user interface element if displayed in afirst relation with the first user interface element, wherein the firstuser interface element is text and the second user interface element isa gradient background and the first characteristic is readability andthe first relation is overlapping; displaying the user interfaceelements using the plurality of secondary colors; displaying informationfrom a plurality of calendars in a calendar interface, wherein theprimary color is associated with one of the plurality of calendars andwherein the user interface elements displayed using the plurality ofsecondary colors are associated with the one of the plurality ofcalendars; selecting an arbitrary color as the primary color for the oneof the plurality of calendars.
 2. A method as in claim 1, wherein theprimary color and the plurality of secondary colors have substantiallysame Hue.
 3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising: displaying aplurality of colors on a display device of the data processing system;and receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of colors as theprimary color.
 4. A method as in claim 3, wherein said determiningcomprises: selecting the plurality of secondary colors from a pluralityof pre-designed colors according to the primary color.
 5. A method as inclaim 1, wherein said determining comprises: computing color componentsof the plurality of secondary colors according to color components ofthe primary color.
 6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said determiningcomprises: computing color components of one of the plurality ofsecondary colors based on color components of the primary color andcolor components of a plurality of pre-designed secondary colors thatare associated respectively with a plurality of pre-designed primarycolors.
 7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the color components of theone of the plurality of secondary colors are discontinuous functions ofthe color components of the primary color.
 8. A method as in claim 6,wherein the color components of the one of the plurality of secondarycolors are continuous functions of the color components of the primarycolor; and, the method further comprises: selecting one from a pluralityof candidates to color a user interface element, the plurality ofcandidates comprising the one of the plurality of secondary colors.
 9. Amethod as in claim 1, further comprising: determining which one of aplurality of regions in a color space is the primary color in.
 10. Amethod as in claim 9, wherein said determining the plurality ofsecondary colors is performed based on a result of said determiningwhich one of the plurality of regions in the color space is the primarycolor in.
 11. A method as in claim 1, further comprising: generating anicon image for the user interface elements using at least one of theplurality of secondary colors.
 12. A method as in claim 11, wherein saidgenerating comprises: creating a plurality of icon images according to aplurality of image models, each of the plurality of image model beingassociated with one of a plurality of regions a color space; and mixingthe plurality of icon images according to a position of the primarycolor in relation with the plurality of regions in the color space. 13.A method as in claim 12, wherein the plurality of regions comprises adark color region and a bright color region; and said mixing isaccording to a measurement of distance to a boundary that separates thedark color region and the bright color region in the color space.
 14. Amethod as in claim 1, wherein said displaying comprises: selecting onefrom candidates including at least one of the plurality of secondarycolors to apply to one of the user interface elements.
 15. A computerstorage medium containing executable computer program instructions whichwhen executed by a data processing system cause said system to perform amethod to display user interface elements on the data processing system,the method comprising: automatically determining, based on a primarycolor, a plurality of secondary colors for the user interface elements,wherein the plurality of secondary colors are assigned different rolesin the user interface elements and wherein a first user interfaceelement is assigned a first secondary color from the plurality ofsecondary colors and wherein a second user interface element is assignedone of the plurality of secondary colors based on a first characteristicof the second user interface element if displayed in a first relationwith the first user interface element, wherein the first user interfaceelement is text and the second user interface element is a gradientbackground and the first characteristic is readability and the firstrelation is overlapping; displaying the user interface elements usingthe plurality of secondary colors; displaying information from aplurality of calendars in a calendar interface, wherein the primarycolor is associated with one of the plurality of calendars and whereinthe user interface elements displayed using the plurality of secondarycolors are associated with the one of the plurality of calendars;selecting an arbitrary color as the primary color for the one of theplurality of calendars.
 16. The computer storage medium as in claim 15,wherein the primary color and the plurality of secondary colors havesubstantially same Hue.
 17. The computer storage medium as in claim 15,wherein the method further comprises: displaying a plurality of colorson a display device of the data processing system; and receiving userinput selecting one of the plurality of colors as the primary color. 18.The computer storage medium as in claim 17, wherein said determiningcomprises: selecting the plurality of secondary colors from a pluralityof pre-designed colors according to the primary color.
 19. The computerstorage medium as in claim 15, wherein said determining comprises:computing color components of the plurality of secondary colorsaccording to color components of the primary color.
 20. The computerstorage medium as in claim 15, wherein said determining comprises:computing color components of one of the plurality of secondary colorsbased on color components of the primary color and color components of aplurality of pre-designed secondary colors that are associatedrespectively with a plurality of pre-designed primary colors.
 21. Thecomputer storage medium as in claim 20, wherein the color components ofthe one of the plurality of secondary colors are discontinuous functionsof the color components of the primary color.
 22. The computer storagemedium as in claim 20, wherein the color components of the one of theplurality of secondary colors are continuous functions of the colorcomponents of the primary color; and, the method further comprises:selecting one from a plurality of candidates to color a user interfaceelement, the plurality of candidates comprising the one of the pluralityof secondary colors.
 23. The computer storage medium as in claim 15,wherein the method further comprises: determining which one of aplurality of regions in a color space is the primary color in.
 24. Thecomputer storage medium as in claim 23, wherein said determining theplurality of secondary colors is performed based on a result of saiddetermining which one of the plurality of regions in the color space isthe primary color in.
 25. The computer storage medium as in claim 15,wherein the method further comprises: generating an icon image for theuser interface elements using at least one of the plurality of secondarycolors.
 26. The computer storage medium as in claim 25, wherein saidgenerating comprises: creating a plurality of icon images according to aplurality of image models, each of the plurality of image model beingassociated with one of a plurality of regions a color space; and mixingthe plurality of icon images according to a position of the primarycolor in relation with the plurality of regions in the color space. 27.The computer storage medium as in claim 26, wherein the plurality ofregions comprises a dark color region and a bright color region; andsaid mixing is according to a measurement of distance to a boundary thatseparates the dark color region and the bright color region in the colorspace.
 28. The computer storage medium as in claim 15, wherein saiddisplaying comprises: selecting one from candidates including at leastone of the plurality of secondary colors to apply to one of the userinterface elements.
 29. A system to process data and to display userinterface elements, the system comprising: means for automaticallydetermining, based on a primary color, a plurality of secondary colorsfor the user interface elements, wherein the plurality of secondarycolors are assigned different roles in the user interface elements andwherein a first user interface element is assigned a first secondarycolor from the plurality of secondary colors and wherein a second userinterface element is assigned one of the plurality of secondary colorsbased on a first characteristic of the second user interface element ifdisplayed in a first relation with the first user interface element,wherein the first user interface element is text and the second userinterface element is a gradient background and the first characteristicis readability and the first relation is overlapping; means fordisplaying the user interface elements using the plurality of secondarycolors; means for displaying information from a plurality of calendarsin a calendar interface, wherein the primary color is associated withone of the plurality of calendars and wherein the user interfaceelements displayed using the plurality of secondary colors areassociated with the one of the plurality of calendars; means forselecting an arbitrary color as the primary color for the one of theplurality of calendars.
 30. The system as in claim 29, wherein theprimary color and the plurality of secondary colors have substantiallysame Hue.
 31. The system as in claim 29, further comprising: means fordisplaying a plurality of colors on a display device of the dataprocessing system; and means for receiving user input selecting one ofthe plurality of colors as the primary color.
 32. The system as in claim31, wherein said means for determining comprises: means for selectingthe plurality of secondary colors from a plurality of pre-designedcolors according to the primary color.
 33. The system as in claim 29,wherein said means for determining comprises: means for computing colorcomponents of the plurality of secondary colors according to colorcomponents of the primary color.
 34. The system as in claim 29, whereinsaid means for determining comprises: means for computing colorcomponents of one of the plurality of secondary colors based on colorcomponents of the primary color and color components of a plurality ofpre-designed secondary colors that are associated respectively with aplurality of pre-designed primary color.
 35. The system as in claim 34,wherein the color components of the one of the plurality of secondarycolors are discontinuous functions of the color components of theprimary color.
 36. The system as in claim 34, wherein the colorcomponents of the one of the plurality of secondary colors arecontinuous functions of the color components of the primary color; and,the data processing system further comprises: means for selecting onefrom a plurality of candidates to color a user interface element, theplurality of candidates comprising the one of the plurality of secondarycolors.
 37. The system as in claim 29, further comprising: means fordetermining which one of a plurality of regions in a color space is theprimary color in.
 38. The system as in claim 37, wherein the pluralityof secondary colors is determined based on a result of determining whichone of the plurality of regions in the color space is the primary colorin.
 39. The system as in claim 29, further comprising: means forgenerating an icon image for the user interface elements using at leastone of the plurality of secondary colors.
 40. The system as in claim 39,wherein said means for generating comprises: means for creating aplurality of icon images according to a plurality of image models, eachof the plurality of image model being associated with one of a pluralityof regions a color space; and means for mixing the plurality of iconimages according to a position of the primary color in relation with theplurality of regions in the color space.
 41. The system as in claim 40,wherein the plurality of regions comprises a dark color region and abright color region; and the plurality of icon images are mixedaccording to a measurement of distance to a boundary that separates thedark color region and the bright color region in the color space. 42.The system as in claim 29, wherein said means for displaying comprises:means for selecting one from candidates including at least one of theplurality of secondary colors to apply to one of the user interfaceelements.
 43. A method of controlling a graphical user interface of adata processing system, the method comprising: presenting a range ofcolors which appear to vary in a substantially continuous manner;receiving a user input selecting a color from said range of colors;automatically determining, based on said color from said range ofcolors, a plurality of colors for a corresponding plurality of userinterface elements, wherein the plurality of colors are assigneddifferent roles in the user interface elements and wherein a first userinterface element in the plurality of user interface elements isassigned a first color from the plurality of colors and wherein a seconduser interface element in the plurality of user interface elements isassigned one of the plurality of colors based on a first characteristicof the second user interface element if displayed in a first relationwith the first user interface element, wherein the first user interfaceelement is text and the second user interface element is a gradientbackground and the first characteristic is readability and the firstrelation is overlapping; displaying said plurality of user interfaceelements with said plurality of colors displaying information from aplurality of calendars in a calendar interface, wherein the color fromthe range of colors is associated with one of the plurality of calendarsand wherein the plurality of user interface elements displayed using theplurality of colors is associated with the one of the plurality ofcalendars; selecting an arbitrary color as the color from the range ofcolors for the one of the plurality of calendars.
 44. A method as inclaim 43, wherein said automatically determining is based upon apredetermined mathematical process, executed by said data processingsystem, which selects said plurality of colors without userintervention.
 45. A method as in claim 43, wherein said range of colorsis presented as a color spectrum in a color wheel.
 46. A method as inclaim 43, wherein said plurality of user interface elements include atleast one of: a) window title bar; b) text highlight color; c) text; d)control button; e) window resize control; and f) scheduled events in acalendar.
 47. A method as in claim 43, wherein one of said plurality ofuser interface elements is displayed in said color from said range ofcolors.
 48. A method as in claim 43, wherein at least one of saidplurality of user interface elements is a control, which upon activationby a user, causes said data processing system to perform an action. 49.A computer storage medium, containing executable computer programinstructions which when executed by a data processing system cause saidsystem to perform a method of controlling a graphical user interface ofsaid data processing system, the method comprising: presenting a rangeof colors which appear to vary in a substantially continuous manner;receiving a user input selecting a color from said range of colors;automatically determining, based on said color from said range ofcolors, a plurality of colors for a corresponding plurality of userinterface elements, wherein the plurality of colors are assigneddifferent roles in the user interface elements and wherein a first userinterface element in the plurality of user interface elements isassigned a first color from the plurality of colors and wherein a seconduser interface element in the plurality of user interface elements isassigned one of the plurality of colors based on a first characteristicof the second user interface element if displayed in a first relationwith the first user interface element, wherein the first user interfaceelement is text and the second user interface element is a gradientbackground and the first characteristic is readability and the firstrelation is overlapping; displaying said plurality of user interfaceelements with said plurality of colors displaying information from aplurality of calendars in a calendar interface, wherein the color fromthe range of colors is associated with one of the plurality of calendarsand wherein the plurality of user interface elements displayed using theplurality of colors is associated with the one of the plurality ofcalendars; selecting an arbitrary color as the color from the range ofcolors for the one of the plurality of calendars.
 50. The computerstorage medium as in claim 49, wherein said automatically determining isbased upon a predetermined mathematical process, executed by said dataprocessing system, which selects said plurality of colors without userintervention.
 51. The computer storage medium as in claim 49, whereinsaid range of colors is presented as a color spectrum in a color wheel.52. The computer storage medium as in claim 49, wherein said pluralityof user interface elements include at least one of: a) window title bar;b) text highlight color; c) text; d) control button; e) window resizecontrol; and f) scheduled events in a calendar.
 53. The computer storagemedium as in claim 49, wherein one of said plurality of user interfaceelements is displayed in said color from said range of colors.
 54. Thecomputer storage medium as in claim 49, wherein at least one of saidplurality of user interface elements is a control, which upon activationby a user, causes said data processing system to perform an action. 55.A system to process data for a graphical user interface, the systemcomprising; means for presenting a range of colors which appear to varyin a substantially continuous manner; means for receiving a user inputselecting a color from said range of colors; means for automaticallydetermining, based on said color from said range of colors, a pluralityof colors for a corresponding plurality of user interface elements,wherein the plurality of colors are assigned different roles in the userinterface elements and wherein a first user interface element in theplurality of user interface elements is assigned a first color from theplurality of colors and wherein a second user interface element in theplurality of user interface elements is assigned one of the plurality ofcolors based on a first characteristic of the second user interfaceelement if displayed in a first relation with the first user interfaceelement, wherein the first user interface element is text and the seconduser interface element is a gradient background and the firstcharacteristic is readability and the first relation is overlapping;means for displaying said plurality of user interface elements with saidplurality of colors means for displaying information from a plurality ofcalendars in a calendar interface, wherein the color from the range ofcolors is associated with one of the plurality of calendars and whereinthe plurality of user interface elements displayed using the pluralityof colors is associated with the one of the plurality of calendars;means for selecting an arbitrary color as the color from the range ofcolors for the one of the plurality of calendars.
 56. The system as inclaim 55, wherein the plurality of colors are automatically determinedbased upon a predetermined mathematical process, executed by said dataprocessing system, which selects said plurality of colors without userintervention.
 57. The system as in claim 55, wherein said range ofcolors is presented as a color spectrum in a color wheel.
 58. The systemas in claim 55, wherein said plurality of user interface elementsinclude at least one of: a) window title bar; b) text highlight color;c) text; d) control button; e) window resize control; and f) scheduledevents in a calendar.
 59. The system as in claim 55, wherein one of saidplurality of user interface elements is displayed in said color fromsaid range of colors.
 60. The system as in claim 55, wherein at leastone of said plurality of user interface elements is a control, whichupon activation by a user, causes said data processing system to performan action.